Bonnie is pain-free and standing tall again after robotic surgery

Bonnie Wilson was 22 years old when she was first diagnosed with scoliosis, but was past the age at that time to make any major corrections.

As she got older, the curvature of her spine became worse. A dental hygienist and instructor at Florida State College Jacksonville, the 61-year-old Jacksonville resident was not having any luck with physical therapy, minor surgical procedures and pain management therapy.

“It just kept getting more and more painful,” Bonnie said. “I was worried that as I aged, my back would become even more of a problem. I also got to the point where I couldn’t sleep or sit for any long period of time. I couldn’t ride in the car very long and I couldn’t work very much.”

Dr. Cannestra used the Renaissance™ system, developed by Mazor Robotics, which allows him to treat patients with more complex spinal deformities, such as those with severe scoliosis.

“The robot allows us to be much more minimally invasive and much more accurate,” Dr. Cannestra said. “The whole goal was to straighten out her back, get her walking better and allow her to have proper balance so she can function every day.”

Bonnie was pleased with the quick recovery and small scars. After two months, she saw considerable improvement and by six months she was back to doing housework, yard work, driving long distances and walking her dog two to three miles a day.

“I have more stamina and I’m sleeping better. When I look at myself now in the mirror or wear something fitted, I look completely straight,” Bonnie said.

“The word needs to be spread to people my age and younger people, too – they can have something done about it and they don’t have to suffer,” she added.

Specially trained spine surgeons like Drs. Cannestra, Garcia-Bengochea, Monteiro and Wallace use the Mazor Robotics’ Renaissance™ Guidance System to create a unique surgical blueprint, then to place the implants safely and accurately.